The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-02-17

NAPLES.
Cruising On the Doashvtest Cease er
the Peninsala-The Cisy or Na.
Pies.
Adsiors Florsssan. In .ssponse TO numerous
enquiries nom various soaTces, and for the pur.
pose Of giving correct insbsmaison to those who
may feel interested in thaiwhich may tend 10 the
settlement and developmest ofour growins and
prosperous Gulf Coast section ofihe State, and Of
which so little comparatively b known, who
may be seeking pleasure, hsaitA OF monetary 10.
vestments, with your permission beg TO rive
a cursory description of the prospective CITY OF
Naples. lying at the extreme southern mainland
of the Gulf Coast as seen on q recent trim to that
truly tropical section:
PERSONNEL OF THE PARTY.
Our party consisted of ex Senator Williams.
General "Cerro Gordo,' y md Messrs. PAYNE
sna s H6endry, Of Kentucky; GriswQld. Of Ash,a-
hart, Bergwinn and 'Capai6 Erwin, Of Zellwood:
Major Champneys and son Tunno. of Apopka;
Frank Hinson, OF HAines City; Dr. Hamilton. Of
Nashville, and your correspondent, with the fol-
lowing feet Sloop Guide, Captain J. Mason;
yacht Margaretta, Captain E. Gonzalez; sloop
under the safe conduct Of Professor John A. Grs-
ham, Jacksonville, the General Manager Of the
Naples Improvement Company" Naples was
the objective point, and on Wednesday, the 10Th
nlt., Professor Graham, General Williams and
the writer lett our home, near Braidentown, and
took seats on Colonel Lucas comfortable hack,
behind his spanking bays" on our tour of OBJ
servation south, arrangements having been made
previously to meet the balance of the pariy at o..
prey and Punta Rassa
FROM SARASOTA TO PUNTA
The first place of interest that attracted our
admiration was the young and prosperous village
Sarasota, which, under the vigorous and liberal
management of the Florida Mortgage and Invest
ment Company, has jumped into existence with
in very short period, and with its magnificent
hotel, store, post-offlce, market, livery stable,
blacksmiths shop, and many pretentious board
ng-houses and private residences presents the
appearance OF clean, healthy, pretty village.
The location, on Sarasota bay, is considered as
been completed short time, and had only opened
for the reception of guests The very day we ar
rived, under the management of that popular
lady, Mrs. Jones, recently from Cedar Key, to
whom we were placed under obligations for cour-
tesies rendered in showing all through this charm
ing winter hotel, the appointments of which are
frst-cass and inviting.
We arrived about dusk at Judge Webl's fa-
nous place at Osprey, the sparkling and phos-
phoTescent waters Of Little Sarasota bay almost
washing the steps, while the comfortable resi-
dence where so many have for years found a
sanitarium, lowered high above the almost sur
rounding waters, resting its solid foundations on
a huge shell mound, and all together forming a
perfect peninsula to the mainland
Sail was turled al Casey's pass, the weather be-
ing threatening outside, AID some of the party
being anxious to visit Mr.. Heigles magnificent
orange grove, and from which we afterwards got
bountifu supply of the luscious fruit Here
Major Marks, the veteran real estate dealer, owns
a fine body of land. Colonel Mahlon Gore of
the Orlando Reporter, had been here few days
before with some friends prospecting and pleas
uring.
On Saturday we set sail and went outside
amid the heavy breakers, but thanks to the skill
and careful management OF Can't Mason, we
passed over in safety into the long swelling waves
of the Gulf Pretty soon some Of the party be-
gan TO look serious and turn pale and generous
contribution was made TO, the waves; of the
breakfast which had been eafs., with 90 much
zest before starting Bot on6 Ssraft WAS swim
and the wind fresh, and at rate of seven knots
at once our seasick friends became as jolly as
ever, and were prepared 10 knock down anyone
who should be so bold as to say that they had
been the least bit seasick.
Soon we were passing through the beautiful
Charlotte Harbor, with Boca Grande on the
northwest, and Cape Hay, rising like giant
breastwork, stretched out its dark green lines
into the northeast part OF the Harbor. Passing
through Charlotte Harbog, one sees some of the
most charming island scenery on the coast
just as night sets in, we pass Pine Island the
lights from ST. James on the Gulf" flashing
out in every direction, seeming very strange in
deed, when one remembers, that this now en-
chanting resort, was, but few months since,
nothing but wilderness The lights at Punta
Rassa flash out from the various houses and YES
sels and in a very short time the Guide is an
chored safely at the cattle wharf. Here we find
the rest OF our party, who had arrived but q few
hours ahead of US, and while supper is being
prepared, under the skillful direction of our
polite hostess, Mrs. ShultZ OF the Shultz House,
we chat and smoke and send messages 10 our
friends on business, and 10 loved ones at home,
here being the Office of the International Ocean
Telegraph Company.
Bright and early on Sunday morning the wind
being fair, all three of our craft spread every
inch Of canvas and gleefully and swiftly we
glitled over the green waters Of the Gulf A
snow-white, and seemingly interminable beach
stretched along the shore, Ear beyond the reach
of vision, without one single break for twenty
seven miles. 1t was lovely picture, and gener-
ously promised of what was beyond.
About noon Prof. Graham pointed to forest
OF pines with their green heads towering high
above the surrounding wood, and exclaimed:
=" On0cf lies the site OIL SOutn fIOflOHS 8 Wture
southernmost city Of the Gulf Coast mainland
the City of Naples" We passed swiftly on
ward, along the glistening shore, its ample beach
covered with millions OF rare and curious shells,
and at half-past one. the Guide 10 the lead, we
glided over the now weary breakers into the
channel, and soon lay along The shell crested
shore inside Gordon's Pass The sails were
furled the anchor thrown into the green grass,
and, like children, we commenced gathering shells
while few not 81 piously inclined as the Others
caught fddleIs," and in a few minutes had
caught sheepshead enough for all three boats.
Everything looked strange and tropical, and, as
after dinner, We went over into Madison Weeks
garden and orchard only few hundred yards
distant, and viewed his acres of cabbages to-
matoes egg plants and bananas, we all speedily
realized the fact that we had indeed found a
veritable NAPLES.
This is pretty name and one easy TO recol
lect. The site of the city may be said to en-
brace the area between G0rdon's and Clam
Passes, q distance of six miles, running north 4
and south, and Eve miles east and west. 1t is
intended to be Ave miles square. The first
ground broken Tor building will be about CEN
trally OF the site, the whole area rising high
above the waters Of the Cult in front on the
east, presenting the grandest sea view the eye
eyer rested on, the effect being particularly i'm
- 0-1 H. A.